May 14, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - Tony Caldwell's grounder to short in the bottom of the eighth brought a pair of runs home, breaking a tie game and sending Auburn to a 7-5 win over Alabama in the first game of a SEC doubleheader at Plainsman Park on Saturday afternoon. With the win Auburn improved to 27-23, 12-13 SEC while Alabama fell to 30-21, 12-13 SEC.
Tied at 5-5 heading to the ninth after squandering a three-run lead in the top half of the inning, Auburn loaded the bases off of Alabama reliever Adam Windsor (3-2) with one out in the eighth. A pitching change brought Josh Rosecrans in from the Alabama bullpen to pitch to Caldwell (1-for-2, 3 BB, 2 RBI). After seeing three pitches, Caldwell bounced one back to Alabama shortstop Jared Reaves, who threw home trying to get Justin Fradejas (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R) who was off on the crack of the bat. Fradejas slid in safe before the throw, which got away from Alabama catcher Brock Bennett, allowing pinch hitter Brooks Beisner to also race home.
Dillon Ortman (2-1) threw the final two innings to pick up the win, allowing a run on three hits while striking out three.
Jon Luke Jacobs was in line for the win after leaving in the seventh after allowing a pair of runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven. When he left Alabama had men two men in scoring position, both of which came in to score off of Ortman.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second, Auburn got to within a run, 2-1, in the third on Casey McElroy's seventh home run of the season, a shot over to center.
The game remained a one-run contest until Auburn erupted for four runs in the seventh, running through four Alabama pitchers in the inning.
Creede Simpson finished the game 2-for-4 with a double for Auburn while Brett Booth was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Alabama.
Auburn 7, Alabama 5 (May 14, 2011 at Auburn, AL) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama............. 020 000 030 - 5 10 1 (30-21, 12-13 SEC)
Auburn.............. 001 000 42X - 7 10 0 (27-23, 12-13 SEC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Win-Dillon Ortman(2-1) Loss-Adam Windsor(3-2) T-2:49 A-3316
Follow Auburn baseball on twitter at twitter.com/AUTigerBaseball.